MARYSVILLE, Wash. -- Soldiers from the 593rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command, Joint Base Lewis-McChord spent the weekend sharing knowledge and best practices with their Army Reserve counterparts from the 364th Expeditionary Sustainment Command at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Marysville, Wash. Feb. 27-28.
The 593rd ESC engages with its Army Reserve counterparts as part of the Department of Defense Total Force Policy, Army Directive 2012-08.
The policy further integrates Reserve forces into the operational force.
National Guard and Reserve forces have been working closely with their active duty counterparts for years in Iraq, Afghanistan and other places, but the new policy enhances it by integrating pre deployment training, equipping and manning.
Currently, the 364th ESC is preparing for a support mission in Europe. To ensure their unit is ready to go, they reached out to the 593rd ESC.
"A lot of us don't have nearly the level of training our active counterparts at the 593rd have, so having them come in with their wealth of experience and help us get ready for this mission is invaluable," says Capt. Dustin Sayes, Operational Contract Support Branch Chief, 364th ESC.
593rd ESC Personnel also shared products they've used during real missions to help the 364th ESC finalize their plans.
Sgt. 1st Class Barry Barker who works Class 3 (oils, lubricants, etc.) with the 593rd ESC says the reservists were very receptive to the support provided by their active counterparts.
"We reviewed their distribution plan, asked them why they were doing it that way, they asked us a lot of questions and I think it's been a very collaborative process which is going to help them achieve success on their upcoming mission," added Barker.
That spirit of collaboration was enhanced as subject matter experts in the areas of supply, maintenance, transportation and engineering, to name a few, were paired up one-on- one throughout the weekend.
"I do hope that we continue training events like this as it's helping not just us, but the Army as whole by making us better prepared for this and future missions," said Maj. Mark Palicka, Mobility Land Officer in Charge, 364th ESC.
A wish that will come true as the 593rd ESC team plans to continue working with the 364th right up until they deploy this summer.
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